DEMOCRACY, REPUBLIC and PLEDGE: More info on mob rule

A July 30 letter writer leans heavily on the word “republic” to describe our nation, in contrast with “democracy.” The writer further describes Democrats as preferring mob rule, while the Republicans prefer an orderly government.

However, only Republicans have stormed the Capitol when they did not like the outcome of the 2020 election; over 1,000 of that mob have been indicted. Democrats have grumbled about the elections of 2000 and 2016, in which the Democratic candidate won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College. No insurrections ensued.

Leaning on the Pledge of Allegiance to justify the word “Republic” fails for several reasons. First, the Pledge is mentioned nowhere in the Constitution. Second, it wasn’t even written until the nation was over a century old: No Founding Father ever heard or recited the Pledge. Third, it is a quibble: A Republic is simply a representative democracy. The word “republic” itself appears nowhere in the Constitution, although “republican form of government” appears once. Finally, we elect 50 governors and 100 senators with a pure popular vote.

The clause “under God” was not added to the Pledge until 1954. This change was motivated by the Red Scare sweeping the nation at the time. In a very real sense, the presence of “under God” in the Pledge is itself the result of mob rule. The presence of that clause arguably violates the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment.

JOHN D. SAHR

Otis Orchards, Wash.